Emma Bailey
Emma Bailey | |
|---|---|
| Born | Emma Parascandola Template:Birth date New York City, U.S. |
| Died | September 3, 1999 (aged 89) |
| Occupation(s) | Auctioneer, writer |
| Known for | First female auctioneer in the United States; first female member of the National Auctioneers Association |
| Notable work | Sold to the Lady in the Green Hat (1962) |
Emma Bailey (born Parascandola; March 6, 1910 – September 3, 1999) was a pioneering American auctioneer and writer, acknowledged as the first female auctioneer in the United States. She conducted her inaugural auction in Brattleboro, Vermont on May 12, 1950, initially to provide additional financial support for her family. In 1952, she became the first woman to gain membership in the National Auctioneers Association. Bailey worked as an auctioneer for close to twenty years and authored the book Sold to the Lady in the Green Hat (1962) before stepping away from the profession in the late 1960s.
Early life
Emma Parascandola entered the world on March 6, 1910, in New York City. She grew up with two brothers and two sisters and completed her education in Newark, New Jersey. In 1932, she married Eli J. Bailey.
Career
In 1945, Bailey relocated with her husband and their two children to Brattleboro, Vermont. Eli took on work as a substitute teacher. Confronted with financial difficulties related to maintaining their older home, Bailey initiated an auction enterprise to supplement the family's earnings. By April 1950, she promoted herself as "Brattleboro's Woman Auctioneer," conducting auctions ranging from individual items to entire estates. Her debut auction on May 12 featured the sale of a rocking chair for $2.50.
Bailey's auctions held every Saturday became a well-known community event, with family members playing key roles—her husband arranged merchandise while her daughters handled bookkeeping and refreshments. She specialized in selling antiques, farm equipment, books, and furniture and established a reputation for fairness and "scrupulous honesty." Significantly, she assisted law enforcement in apprehending antique thieves who attempted to sell stolen property through her auctions.
In 1952, Bailey shattered gender barriers by becoming the first female admitted into the National Auctioneers Association. Her memoir Sold to the Lady in the Green Hat (1962) recounted her professional journey. She maintained an active auctioneering career for nearly two decades before retiring at the height of her success during the late 1960s.
Throughout her career, Bailey encountered resistance due to her gender: a male competitor filed zoning complaints that delayed her initial auction; early events were interrupted by hecklers; and she lost business opportunities to male counterparts who cited her family obligations as a disadvantage. Despite her accomplishments, some members of the National Auctioneers Association remained dismissive of women in the field during that era.
Death and legacy
Bailey passed away on September 3, 1999. The Wisconsin-based auction firm Bailey's Honor Auction, LLC—owned by auctioneer Carol Miller—was named as a tribute to her legacy.